Craft beer and cider boom sees sales of 33cl cans soar

The rise of craft beer and cider has sparked an 18% growth in volume sales of 33cl cans in the UK off-trade in the past year (Nielsen, year to May 2015).

Volume sales of beer and cider in cans are down 3% overall, but the impact of craft beer has seen the smaller format cans enjoy excellent growth.

Cans are cheaper to produce, easier to recycle and more adept than bottles at protecting beer and cider from oxygen and light, leading a host of British craft breweries and cidermakers to follow their US counterparts by championing 33cl cans.

Martin Constable, chairman of the trade group Can Makers, said: “Strong performance of 33cl cans for beers is encouraging. It proves that the unique benefits of the drinks can are being recognised by brewers and consumers alike.

“Since the Indie Beer Can Festival in 2014, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of beers in cans as more lines and mobile canning facilities open up the many possibilities to discerning audiences.”

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